Language and identity

 

 

 

 

Language and Identity

 

 

 

 

• We establish our identity through our use of language – your spider diagrams showing different aspects of your identity – gender, class etc gave examples of how you use language differently in different situations

 

 

Like, so, totally, mint, minging

 

 mauve, lovely, adorable, sweet, cute

 

blade, slide, rigger, back stops

 

snicket, cob, snap, tha’ knows, 

 

mate, okay, bollocks, footie

 

 

 

 

Language can be a powerful means of  exercising social control – if you belong  to a particular group, this means adopting  the linguistic conventions of that group  – can you think of any groups you  are part of in which you have to  use particular kinds of language?

“Identity, whether it is or, an individual, social or institutional level, is something which we are constantly building and negotiating all our lives through our interaction with others “

 

 

 

 

 

Names and naming practices

 

• The giving and using of names is fundamental to people’s identity – it is what distinguishs us from other people.  
• Different cultures have different naming practices e.g Russia ‘son of x’ etc
• What kind of identity does your name give you? How do you feel if someone gets it wrong? How do different people address you in different contexts?

 

 

 

 

Systems of Address

 

• The way people address you – the degree of formality, intimacy or status affects the communication e.g Mr, boy, Sir, mate etc

"What's your name boy?" 

"Dr Poussaint. I'm a physician. 

"What's your first name, boy?" 

"Alvin."

(Ervin‑Tripp, I980: 22)

 

• Different cultures have different ways of addressing in public situations

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Language fits with other indicators of social identity and group membership such as style of clothes, type of haircut and taste in music.  How would the people in the pictures address each other?

 

 

 

 

 

THE LANGUAGE…

 

Another part of hippy fashion  is the language of the subculture. English  exploded with many new words in the  '60s.

 

Astral Plane: A dimension of  existence beyond the physical world. A  place where disembodied spirits dwell. Many  attempt to contact the astral plane through  meditation or by using psychic energy. 

 

Bag: What you're into. Your  profession/obsession. What you enjoy. "I  hear your bag's nude meditation on acid!" 

 

Ball: To have sex. 

 

Bogart: To hog a joint while  others are waiting.

 

Bread: Money.

 

Burn: To get ripped off

 

City: Following certain words  indicating a profoundness or a lot of  the previous word.

 

Flaky: Someone unreliable, untrustworthy.

 

Freak Flag: Long Hair

 

Groove: A good habit or style.

 

 

 

 

Language and group identity

 

• Language can give a strong sense of belonging or being excluded
• The first step of all invading forces, in wars of the past, was to eliminate the use of the native language – this stops dissent but also destroys group and national identity 
  e.g Scotland – 1745 Gaelic was banned.
• Not being able to speak or understand a language effectively excludes you from a group or nation or makes you a second class citizen e.g not speaking English or not having an R.P accent.

 

 

 

 

 

Language and Global Identity

 

• Why is the predominant language of the Internet English?
• What implications does this have for national identities?
• For the status of certain countries over others?
• For a sense of belonging?